Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Borrelia burgdorferi infection found in dogs and ticks in Egypt
By Elhelw, R et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2021·Department of Microbiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evidence of the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs and associated ticks in Egypt.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that a small percentage of dogs in Egypt had ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Out of 100 dogs examined, only one dog tested positive for the infection, while 69% of the dogs were found to have ticks. The ticks identified included Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which is commonly associated with dogs. Although the rate of infection was low, the high number of tick infestations in dogs and other animals raises concerns for both pet and public health. Regular tick prevention is important to protect your pets from potential diseases.
People also search for: dog ticks in Egypt · Lyme disease in dogs · how to prevent ticks on dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete that causes Lyme Borreliosis (LB), which is a zoonotic tick-borne disease of humans and domestic animals. Hard ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that serve as vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi. Studies on the presence of Lyme borreliosis in Egyptian animals and associated ticks are scarce. METHODS: This study was conducted to detect B. burgdorferi in different tick vectors and animal hosts. Three hundred animals (dogs=100, cattle=100, and camels=100) were inspected for tick infestation. Blood samples from 160 tick-infested animals and their associated ticks (n=1025) were collected and examined for the infection with B. burgdorferi by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The identified tick species were characterized molecularly by PCR and sequencing of the ITS2 region. RESULTS: The overall tick infestation rate among examined animals was 78.33% (235/300). The rate of infestation was significantly higher in camels (90%), followed by cattle (76%) and dogs (69%); (P = 0.001). Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, and both Hyalomma dromedarii and Amblyomma variegatum, were morphologically identified from infested dogs, cattle, and camels; respectively. Molecular characterization of ticks using the ITS2 region confirmed the morphological identification, as well as displayed high similarities of R. sanguineus, H. dromedarii, and A. Variegatu with ticks identified in Egypt and various continents worldwide. Just one dog (1.67%) and its associated tick pool of R. sanguineus were positive for B. burgdorferi infection. The 16S rRNA gene sequence for B. burgdorferi in dog and R. sanguineus tick pool showed a 100% homology. CONCLUSION: Analyzed data revealed a relatively low rate of B. burgdorferi infection, but a significantly high prevalence of tick infestation among domesticated animals in Egypt, which possesses a potential animal and public health risk. Additionally, molecular characterization of ticks using the ITS2 region was a reliable tool to discriminate species of ticks and confirmed the morphological identification.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33494772/